Author Archives: Joyce Richman

What Does Win-Win Look Like in a Tough Employment Market?

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Job hunters make big mistakes when they negotiate from a win-lose mentality. It’s a buyer’s market. The jobs are few and the applicants many. If you project an attitude of arrogance or indifference, don’t bother to show up. There are plenty of applicants out there who understand how that game is played. Your win-lose gambit will turn into lose-lose outcome. Applicants make big mistakes when they negotiate from a lose-win mentality. Sure it’s a buyer’s Continue reading →

Take Time to Evaluate the Well-being of Your Employees

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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According to formal and informal workplace surveys employees are staying where they are, not because of loyalty to their bosses or love of their work. They’re staying because they’re concerned if they initiate a search: They’ll be found out and dismissed, before they are able to find work. An aggressive and talented field of job seekers can easily replace them. There aren’t any jobs out there that are more secure, satisfying, or promising than the Continue reading →

Own Your Mistakes

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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If you’re like many hard drivers, you can be more than a little defensive when criticized for something you’ve said or done. “What do you mean, I’m defensive? I’m just explaining what happened and why I did what I did!” “That’s what I mean, you’re acting defensive. Just admit that you were rude this morning. I was in the middle of an important  presentation and you cut me off.” “Rude? How was I rude? You Continue reading →

Deny and Avoid – a Failed Theory

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Cal, the employee, is in the middle of an approach-avoidance mess. He has a job that he needs and doesn’t want. He doesn’t know what he’s doing and he’s lost while he’s doing it. He forces a smile while he’s scared; he wants to leave and has to stay. As confused as he appears, he’s not the least befuddled about this: It may be scary “in here”, but it’s much scarier “out there”. Bottom line, Continue reading →

Notes for a Job-getting Action Plan

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Bam. That’s the sound of your confidence hitting bottom.  The longer you’re out of work, the bigger the hit your confidence takes. Pretty soon you’ll have trouble remembering what you did well and why anyone was foolish enough to pay you for doing it. The good news is, you’re not alone. The bad news is, there’s no great comfort in having company. Is there real reason to be concerned? No, you are employable, you do Continue reading →

Two Views of Post-Interview Communication

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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“Joyce, I read your column regularly.  I would like you to touch on the subject of employers who do not inform potential employees of the outcome of interviews. With high unemployment rates, I can understand that they cannot possibly respond to everyone who sends them a resume. However, no employer should ignore someone who has interviewed with them for a position. It’s just plain rude to keep someone’s hopes alive if there is no offer Continue reading →

No Work, No Income

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Outplacement. Downsizing. Rightsizing. Realignment. Reorganizing. Call it what you want, it means the same thing to the person being affected: No work, no income. It’s not what the company wanted. Management wanted great products, productivity, and profitability. It’s not what the employees wanted. They wanted certainty, security, a financial stake in the future. No work. No income. She and He have lost their jobs and are at a loss to know how to reconcile their Continue reading →

Handling Lay Offs & Being Fired on Your Resume

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Whether you’ve been fired, laid off, or asked to leave your job without knowing why, you’re left with bigger problems than having nothing to do on Monday. The following questions address those concerns: Q: I was fired from my last job. Do I need to indicate that on my resume? A: A resume is a condensed version of your work history that lists the companies you’ve worked, the positions you’ve held, and the jobs that Continue reading →

Take Charge of Your Life, Sam

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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I describe here the saga of Sam Smiley. An affable fellow who, as a young man, chose a career in sales because family and friends said he should.  “You’re a natural”, they said. “You’re a warm, outgoing guy. People like you; they’ll trust you; they’ll buy from you.” What a relief for Sam! “I’m a warm, outgoing guy, and trustworthy, too. People like me so they’ll buy from me. What a concept!” Sam did as Continue reading →

Advice for Children of Laid Off Parents

January 24, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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OK, children, listen up. Your mom’s been laid off. That’s right, she’s lost her job and she’s concerned. She loves you and she’s going to continue to provide for you. You just need to give her time and space to figure out what she’s going to do next, so life can get back to normal. You can lend a hand. Support can be financial and it can be emotional. You may be too young to Continue reading →

Cautionary Tales

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Dave Duckit lost his job because he wouldn’t fight to keep it. Hannah Highway lost her job because she valued being right more than she valued doing the right thing. Larry Leeway lost his job because he needed more room to maneuver than his company had space to give him. What are the stories behind the headlines? Dave Duckit: Dave acts laid back and appears to be a get along, go along person, but don’t Continue reading →

How Does the Networking Thing Work?

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Q: I think I’m doing a great job of networking. I’ve spoken to dozens of interesting and kind people. They thank me, I thank them. And nothing happens. What am I doing that’s stopping my search cold? A: It sounds like you’re good at getting in front of your contact but don’t know what to do once you get there. You need a plan and a purpose. Before calling another person, answer these career questions: Continue reading →

What Kind of Resume?

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Q: “I’ve worked for several companies over the last few years. I’m not a job hopper but I am concerned that I’ll be seen that way. I’ve been told that to present myself in the best possible light I should use a functional resume and not a chronological one. Do you agree?” A: A functional resume groups your abilities into skill clusters. A (reverse) chronological resume lists each of your positions and companies, beginning with Continue reading →

Mary, Larry, and Harry – Changing the Paradigm

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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“Everyone wants to shoot the messenger!” says Mary, who’s the messenger for a boss who would rather “not get involved.” Here’s her story. It might have familiar ring: Mary is a seasoned executive assistant. She’s able to see what needs doing and gets it done. She thinks on her feet, consistently makes good choices, and good decisions. She’s hard working and dedicated to her job; organized, good with details and sees how they connect to Continue reading →

Tomorrow’s Employee Today

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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“I’ve always thought of myself as someone steady and stable. Other people say they don’t see me that way, at least, not lately. I’ve had four jobs in five years and some interviewers are telling me that I’m unemployable. I never in my life thought I’d hear something like that.  I was with my first employer for 21 years. I figured I’d stay with them until I retired but the owners had to close the Continue reading →

The Story of Ms. Take

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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If interviewers more readily acknowledged the challenges as well as the opportunities of their job offerings and applicants were more candid about their strengths and weaknesses, individuals would be better matched to what they do. Everyone involved would benefit from a more efficient, productive, and stable work force. “I thought I was making a great hiring choice when I hired Ms. Take”, said the human resources manager of a mid-sized manufacturer. “We spoke with her Continue reading →

Hugh Dooit Takes Charge of His Own Career and You Should Too!

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Hugh Dooit is a personable, intelligent fellow who by all conventional standards should be enjoying a reasonably successful career. He isn’t. He’s blocked by an outdated expectation that others will guide his career and provide the criterion and access he needs to reach his goals. Hugh, there was a time that your boss, your human resources rep, and if you’re lucky, an internal mentor would work with you, charting your course as you worked your Continue reading →

Attitude, the Match Game, Networking & a Few Closing Thoughts

January 23, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Attitude: It’s competitive out there. The market is tight. As a job seeker you’re not  feeling too optimistic. That can show when it’s time to interview. You’re evaluated by what you say and how you say it. So here are a few reminders about attitude: It’s created in your head and demonstrated in your behavior. With that in mind, don’t mentally argue with interviewers. Don’t set up mental barriers. Think “partnership”. Partner with the interviewers Continue reading →

The Post-Interview Thank You Note

January 11, 2009 by Joyce Richman
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Are thank you notes an outdated concept? Absolutely not. Interviewers always look for applicants who have as much EQ as they have IQ. Courtesy and respect are often as valued as intellectual skill, interpersonal savvy, and interactive ability. E-mail, snail-mail, or fax? If your earlier communications have been via e-mail, e-mail your note of appreciation. If the company is more formal and you’ve corresponded through the postal service, mail your thank you as you would Continue reading →